WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State senior forward Jordan Grant (Gray, Maine) posted a game-high 17 points as twelve different Owls got in the scoring column as part of a 106-48 victory over Mount Holyoke College in a non-conference game from the Woodward Center in Westfield, Mass. on Tuesday night.
The Owls advance to 3-2 on the season, with the 106 points scored serving as a season high for Westfield in the early stages of the season. The Lyons fall to 0-5 on the year.
Defense and transition scoring was the winning formula for Westfield as the Owls forced 16 first-quarter turnovers which resulted in a 22-point first period lead. Grant led the charge in the opening frame, leading the team with seven points while fronting the Owls press with three steals.
Westfield continued to extend the lead in the second quarter, opening the period on an 9-2 run with Jess Gardner (Webster, Mass.) jumpstarting the scoring burst with a triple, then layups from Grant, Morgan Berthiaume (Webster, Mass.), and Octaviana Williams (Springfield, Mass.) pushed the Owls out to a 37-9 lead with 5:58 to play in the half.
The Owls outscored the Lyons by seven points in the second quarter, taking a sizeable 29-point lead into halftime, ultimately sealing the victory.
Mount Holyoke opened the second half with terrific energy, with Emma Goff (Cohasset, Mass.) and Libby Harris (Foxborough, Mass.) combining for 15 of the Lyons 22 points in the third quarter, their most efficient shooting period of the night as a unit. However, the Westfield offense continued to strike as the Owls connected on 11 of 18 field goal attempts (61.1%) in the fourth quarter to extend their lead.
Hannah Sheldon (Taunton, Mass.) totaled a season-high 15 points to go along with five rebounds and three steals. Berthiaume added 14 points and piled up seven steals to pace the Owls defensive attack. Jordyn Lummus (Pittsfield, Mass.) contributed 14 points as well for an Owls team that had balanced scoring throughout the evening.
Harris was the Lyons leading scorer on the night with 13 points. Goff registered ten points and eight rebounds with Teal Howle (Florence, S.C.) adding eight points.
Westfield set season highs in field goal efficiency (46.2%) and three-point percentage (31.0%). The Owls feasted in transition as well, generating 32 fast break points and 43 points off turnovers.
The Owls will hit the road for their next contest as Westfield visits Emmanuel College (Mass.) on Tuesday, November 28 at 7:00 P.M. Mount Holyoke College will travel to Elms College on Tuesday, November 28 for a 7:00 P.M. tipoff.